“I just couldn’t allow that we won’t have any music releases even in a pandemic,” declared Cattski.
One wouldn’t expect any less from Cattski Espina, music producer extraordinaire and the founder of the newly-rebranded 22 Tango Music Group, as well as the voice behind the songs Sea Hue and Monsters. But even she wasn’t spared from feeling out of sorts when the whole world suddenly stopped and went into lockdown.
It had taken four weeks into the pandemic (and binging the entire Queer Eye series on Netflix) before survival mode finally kicked in for Cattski, who initially thought of the quarantine period as a long-overdue vacation. “I considered it as a chance to catch up on my sleep and maybe write some songs, read my books, clean my house,” Cattski admitted. “I also think I was in denial. I didn’t think that it was serious.”
But with COVID-19 cases rising in Cebu, it dawned on her that it wasn’t going to get better — at least, not anytime soon. “Quickly, the denial became panic and I was literally forced to do something.”
The realization that her small business, so closely intertwined with her personal life, was under threat was what finally got Cattski moving. “I made calls. I got into thinking mode and demanded Zoom meetings, and we started working!”
She continued to make music with her artists and recently released the single “Move Love” featuring LOURDES, the Wonggoys, Alice Who, Jericho Streegan, and Vincent Eco. She is also in the midst of completing the Wonggoys’ third studio album.
“My biggest challenge was logistics; though I was doing production work at home, there is some stuff that needed to be done in a studio setting,” Cattski explained. “I couldn’t go to my instruments, equipment, and my creative space. Also, I didn’t have decent internet — I was just using my LTE and it could get bad or slow at times. It was really frustrating.
“Occasionally, I would risk going to the studio early in the morning, do some studio work and rush out of there before curfew,” she went on. “That’s how I coped.”
Despite the challenges, Cattski and her team also moved forward with rebranding 22 Tango Records to 22 Tango Music Group to commemorate their 10-year milestone as a record label.
22 Tango Music Group is a multi-faceted record label whose vision and dream is to elevate local music through a community of different music, styles, and genres that’s inclusive for all. As a company, 22 Tango Music Group focuses on two genres: Grit Music for rock music, and Queen City Records for mainstream pop.
While they aim for commercial endeavors, they remain true to the advocacy and movement of participating in the local economy to help the Cebuano music scene thrive.
22 Tango Music Group’s rebranding came along with the theme Music That Moves. The artists wanted to show that music has the power to bring people together in a movement, which is a very timely message in this pandemic.
Initially, the plan was to launch it back in 2020. But due to COVID-19, their plans had to take a bit of a detour. They were waiting for the perfect time to launch it. That day was February 22, 2021.
The one-year delay helped 22 Tango Music Group adapt to the new normal. “We were able to add services that cater to this new environment. A quick pivot. So now, video is part of our equation,” Cattski divulged. “We used to outsource our video requirements because we wanted to focus on music production and live events. But, the new environment forced us to re-think that decision. We now have video and live streaming services. We actually had to invest in additional equipment and staff for this.”
Cattski and her team have always gone the extra mile for the local music industry. While the growth in the industry has been evident through the years, she believes that there is still room for more growth, especially in these uncertain times.
“The main challenge is the absence of live music. Music will always be communal — music is best experienced when shared with people,” she emphasized. “The pandemic took out the communal aspect of music and though live streaming and virtual shows attempt to fill in the gaps, it’s not the same. But we wanted to keep an online presence but because we believe in the power of music — that somehow, it will reach the people it’s meant to reach even if it’s just online.”
From being an eight-year-old who once wanted to be Madonna to becoming a homegrown talent performing in front of multiple audiences and the CEO of her own recording label, Cattski has continued to move forward without backing down from anything. This pandemic hasn’t put out her flame.
Her musical journey and career have not been a walk in the park. While she played a memorable set at the legendary The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, Tennessee, her humble beginnings involved doing covers at a speakeasy called Par 5. She also continues to fight an uphill battle having a business without external investors and minimal support from the government for promoting the Cebuano music scene.
Cattski believes in local talent and wants the world to hear what our artists are capable of. She knows in her heart that we have a local industry with the potential to go global. Her dream is for Cebu to become a sustainable music city, one that could be a part of the UNESCO Music Cities Network.
She continues to be a driving force in the local music community and industry. Although the pandemic has brought a startling halt to some of her many plans, this is but a pause. Her desire to press play and continue with her music is very much alive.
She will keep pushing forward, building, and creating because music is the sole thing that makes her spirit move.
Quarantrend I picked up: My inner #Plantita got amplified!
Something I’m looking forward to when it’s safer: Mounting and producing physical live music events and gathering our music-loving community! Excited to do both small and big shows and basking in that local music energy.
Some things that surprised me about myself: That I can be calm, and be kind to myself even in the midst of crippling fear; that I can work hard, and fight for what I love even when the environment is paralyzing; that I can have fun on Tiktok.
One year later, I’m grateful for: Family and friends who are family, staffers who are family. I am also grateful for the community we’ve built – they really showed up for the music during the pandemic. Grateful for the artists who kept going.
Cattski Espina is a singer-songwriter, music producer, and co-founder of 22 Tango Music Group. Follow her on Instagram at @cattskimusic.
with additional reporting by Patty Taboada | Contributed photos by Rae Cabradilla-Padin @raecabradilla